A FORMER New College worker who is accused of harassing the principal more than 10 years after leaving his job has unsuccessfully appealed against a refusal of bail.

Kieran Miles, 32, is said to have sent menacing messages to New College, Swindon, and also made threats on Facebook to its head Graham Taylor.

Miles, of Giles Close, Lea, Malmesbury, is due to face trial by magistrates on Monday, February 29, after pleading not guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through harassment.

At Swindon Crown Court yesterday he appealed against the justices' decision to refuse him bail.

But after hearing an application from his solicitor the judge, Recorder Richard Smith QC, refused the request and remanded him in custody.

Miles, who was not present for the hearing, was initially a student and then worked at the college between 2002 and 2005, when he resigned his position.

He is not said to have had any contact with the Queens Drive establishment until last autumn when he sent them a Facebook message.

It is then alleged he then sent another on Thursday, January 21, reading 'If I was you New College I would keep your building clear of people at night time'.

And in the week leading up to that communication it is said he put a number of other postings on his own Facebook page, many threatening Mr Taylor.

He also said he would blow up the building, damage it by breaking windows and hurt people present on the campus, it is alleged.

Other postings are alleged to say he would attend at the college in full body armour and a real firearm would be needed to stop him.

Emma Thacker, for Miles, said her client had lost his job as a result of being remanded in custody.

She said he had lived with his step father and mother until she died nine months ago but still has stable accommodation to go to.

At an earlier hearing the defendant pleaded not guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through harassment between late October 2014 and January 22, this year.

Magistrates can pass the maximum of a six-month jail sentence if he is convicted but can decide to commit to crown court, where the maximum sentence is five years.

Miles was remanded in custody until February 29, when he is to face trial.